Slide connection for couplers



April 14, 1931. J. w. LEWIN SLIDE CONNECTION FOR COUPLERS Filed Feb. 24, 1930 Im/en, /acob Mien 5w nil/171;; A

Patent ed Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB W. LEWIN, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS SLIDE CONNECTION FOR COUPLERS Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,823.

Theinvention relates to improvements in Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another condu1t couplings and particularly to an immodified form of the invention. proved coupling having novel means therein Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal cento afford adjustment of a conduit relative to tral sectional view of a further modification.

the coupling without obstructing the pas- The preferr d f rm f he IP V 1 55 sage therethrough, and having means for se pler illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, prefcurlng said conduit in an adjusted position. erably comprises a curved conduit coupler or object of the invention is to provide an an adaptor for oval ducts having a compara improved coupler of the character referred tively smooth interior surface gradually 10 o having means therein for adjustabl r arched to facilitate the feeding of electric 6o ceiving conduits of various sizes. Wires through the same. The conduit cou- Another object of the invention is to propl g is pref r y Provided With novel vide an improved coupler, capable of adjustm n 011 i to facilitate mounting ably receiving conduits, having m n th therein of oval ducts and on the other end, in for providing a smooth int rior surface with means for slidably mounting and secur- C5 to facilitate the feeding of Wires therei g therein a conduit through. Referring, in detail, to the preferred form Another object of the invention is to proof the invention, the oval duct adaptor or vide an improved coupler of the character rep g 11 is l'ovided with a Substantially ferred to having novel means therein for secy nd ical b y Portion 12 fOrmed With a 76 curely anchoring and grounding a conduit in ntral opening or passage 13. One end of an adjusted position. V the body portion 12 preferably terminates'in Another object of the invention is to o. an extension 14, said extension being curved I Vide an improved adaptor for oval du t h on a relatively small radius to reduce the ing novel means therein for adjustablv segeneral r l Size of the up gh curing a conduit in place. extension 14 is substantially flattened in cross Another object of the invention i t section to provide an elongated oval passagevide an improved coupler of the ch r t Way in continuation of the central opening 13 ferred to which is inexpensive to manufacin the y Portion I ture and may be readily a bl d d The particular type of coupler illustrated mounted in place. is adapted to be used when employing one The foregoing and such other objects of the Conduit P p for housing two independent invention as will appear hereinafter as the lines g p of Wires, said lines extending description proceeds, will be more readily Substantially p f outwardly from one understood from a perusal of the following end f the eXtehSlOh Sultahle meilhs 85 specification, referencebeing had to the aclecelvlhg the Oval-Shaped ducts 15 15 P companying d wi i hi h; vided in the free end of the extension 14, said Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the imend ,bemg Preferably Struck outwardly to proved coupler showing a conduit in place. Provlde an ofiset Porno h end 9 the Fi 2 is an enlarged elevational view of one Oval duct 15 18 adapted to extend Into Sald i end i the coupler set end and abut a shoulder formed by sald offset to provide a smooth passageway at the connection so that the wires or lines may vlew.through h other end of t u easily be threaded through. It is'preferable 45 shovflhg {Condult mounted hthat a partition wall 17, provided for spaclg- 1s 3 fragmentary elevatlohal Vlew ing the oval ducts 15 apart and for closing the of the Improved j space therebetween, be removabl secured in Fig. 5 is a longltudinal central sectional the offset 16. Upon removal 0 I this partiview similar to Fig. 3, showinga modification tion an oval-shaped duct of substantially the of the invention. same cross sectional area as that of the open- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional ing at 16 may be inserted in the end of the extension 14. i

The free end of the body portion 12 is adapted to receive a sleeve 18 of substantially greater length than the body portion and preferably being formed with longitudinal slots 19 and slits 21 to permit its frictionally engaging the interiorwall of the body 12. The end of the sleeve 18 which extends into the body portion 12 is preferably formed with an inwardly directed annular shoulder or flange 22 which provides an abutment for the end of a conduit 23. The interior surface of the sleeve 18, between the shoulder 22' and the innermost end of said sleeve, is flared outwardly, as at 24, to provide a gradual incline from the inner wall of the body 12 to the inner surface of conduit 23. This gradual incline prevents abrasion of the wires while they are being drawn through the conduit and insures their proper feeding therethrough.

- The conduit 23 and sleeve 18 are adapted to be adjusted in unison within the body 12 to any desired position. These parts are securely held in adjusted position by a knurled. lock nut or sleeve 25 which engages the pipe threads on the end 26 of the body 12. It is preferable that the body 12 be slit for a short distance inwardly of its end, as at 27 With the parts in position within the body 12, the annular lock nut 25 is drawn tightly over the slit end 26 of the body to cause said body to frictionally engage the sleeve 18. This prevents longitudinal movement of said sleeve; and the sleeve, being slit at 21, frictionally engages and holds conduit 23 in place.

- To positively secure the conduit 23 within 1 the body 12 and to provide the required ground therefor, it is desirable to form lugs 28 on the' lower end of the lock nut 25. These lugs are each apertured to receive in threading engagement therethrough lock screws 29 which preferably extend through the slot 19 in the sleeve 18 and engage into the conduit 23.

Referring to the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 5, it will be noted that the lock nut 25 is dispensed with and but one slot 31 is provided in sleeve 18. In this instance, the body 12 is provided with threaded apertures 32 adjacent its end for receiving screws 33. One of the screws 33 is adapted to engage the sleeve 18 to prevent its displacement and the other screw passes through slot 31, in the sleeve, and engages conduit 23, thereby providing a positive ground therefor,

The adjustable features of the structures described in the foregoing mayreadily be adapted for providing a slidable connection for mounting conduits in an outlet box or inthe housing of a generator or motor. As shown in Fig. 6, the body portion 12b is preferably threaded at 34 for insertion into the usual opening provided therefor in the outlet box 35. The usual retaining nuts 36 securely lock the body in place.

In Fig. 7 a. ferrule is provided, which is formed with a shoulder for seating upon the end of the conduit 23. An annular lip portion 37 extends into the conduit and is formed with suitable slit-s 38 for frictionally engaging the inside surface of the conduit to hold the ferrule against displacement.

It maybe desirable to provide suitable anti-friction means in the coupler to facilitate its adaptation for use when housing lead cable or the like. Cable of this character is quite heavy and to pull any length through a conduit requires considerable energy to overcome the friction between the cable and the conduit. This is especially noticeable at bends in the conduit. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, anti-friction rollers ly employed to take the place of a union, in

which event each end of the body may be formed to receive a sleeve and a conduit from opposite directions.

If desired, the sleeve may be formed of sheet metal tubing having an annular inwardly directed tapered flange or shoulder for abutting the end of the conduit.

I claim:

1. A. conduit coupling comprising, a body portion adapted to receive a conduit; a movable ferrule in said body adapted normally to abut the end of the conduit to provide a smooth interior surface for facilitating the feeding of wires therethrough; and means on said body for securing the conduit in any ad usted position therein.

2. A conduit coupling comprising, a body; a sleeve in said body; a shoulder formed in said sleeve adapted to provide an abutment for the end of a conduit extending therein; and means on the body for frictionally ret aining the sleeve and the conduit in any adjusted position relative to the body.

3. A conduit coupling comprising, a substantially cylindrical body adapted to receive the end of a conduit; a movable ferrule in said body frictionally engaging said conduit whereby said ferrule and conduit may be ad'- justed in unison in the body; and means on said body for securing the conduit in its adjusted position.

4. A conduit coupler comprising, a body portion having one end formed to receive an oval duct; and the other end'formed to receive a conduit; removable means in said body providing a smooth surface at the joining of the conduit with the body; and means carried on said body for securing the conduit in place.

5. A conduit coupling comprising, a cylindrical body having a conduit slidably mounted therein; an annulus mounted in said body abutting the end of said conduit, said annulus having an outwardly diverging inner periphery to provide a smooth surface at the joining; and threaded means on the end of said body frictionally to hold the conduit in lace. I p 6. A conduit coupling comprising, in combination, a body; a sleeve in said body, said sleeve being adapted to receive a conduit therein; an annular internal shoulder on the end of said sleeve forming an abutment for the end of said conduit; the inner wall of the sleeve, beyond said shoulder, tapering outwardly to provide a smooth surface at the joining of the conduit with the body; and means on said body for securing the parts in place.

7. A conduit coupling comprising, in com: bination, a body; an ad ustable sleeve in said body, said sleeve being adapted toreceive a 10. A conduit coupling comprising, in combination, a body portion having non-adjustable connection means on one end; a sleeve adjustably mounted in the other end; a shoulder on one end of said sleeve adapted-t0 form an abutment for a conduit; said shoulder being inclined toward the end of the sleeve to provide a smooth surface at the joining of the conduit and the body; an annulus threadingly mounted on the end of said body for clamping the conduit, sleeve, and body together; and means on said annulus for place.

11. A conduit coupling comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body portion having a curved extension on one end adapted to receive oval ducts; a sleeve slidably mounted in the other end of said body, having a ferrule on its inner end, adapted to receive a conduit therein; said ferrule forming a shoulder to provide an abutment for the conduit and being flared to provide a smooth surface to facilitate passage of wires therethrough, andmeans on said body portion for frictionally and positively securing the parts in position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature at 10 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois.

JACOB W. LEWIN.

conduit therein; an annular shoulder on the end of said sleeve forming an abutment for the end of-said conduit; the inner wall of said sleeve, beyond said shoulder, tapering outwardly to provide a gradual approach from the inner surface of the body to the inner surface of the conduit; and means on said body for adjustably securing the sleeve and the conduit in position.

8. A conduit coupling comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body portion having a a curved extension on one end adapted to receive a plurality of oval ducts and a sleeve slidingly mounted in the other end; means on said body for retaining said sleeve in an adjusted position, said sleeve being adapted to receive a conduit therein; and means formed on said sleeve to provide an abutment for the end of said conduit and to provide a smooth interior surface at the joiningof the conduit with the coupling.

9. A conduit coupling comprising, in combination, a body portion having non-adjustable connection means on one end; a sleeve adjustably mounted in the other end; a shoulder on one end of said sleeve adapted to form an abutment for a conduit to be inserted therein, said shoulder being inclined outand the body; threads on the end of said body, and an annulus threadingly mounted on said body for clamping the conduit, sleeve, and body together.

positively locking the conduit in 

